News & Views Thursday, April 18, 2024

Are you singing for your church's Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services this December? Every year, we get panicked phone calls and visits from customers around the 23rd of December, desperately in need of a piece IMMEDIATELY! Don't let that be you! Now is a good time to double-check your music files and make sure that you have all the pieces you need in the appropriate key. Some of the most popular pieces sung at Christmas Eve services are Gesu Bambino, Mary, Did You Know? and Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night). We're happy to help you find less common or hard-to-find repertoire for your Christmas services, and we can also give you some suggestions if you're just not sure what to sing! Just give us a call at 1-800-426-8742, or drop us an email.

And for all you procrastinators out there, Stanton's will be open on Christmas Eve!

Stanton’s is closed today so that all our staff can eat turkey and take naps. You can still shop online, and we’ll begin processing your orders when we re-open tomorrow.

For today, we hope you’ll enjoy this truly American holiday with the work of American composer, Aaron Copeland, and American photographer, Ansel Adams.

Click here to watch video

Famous & Fun Pop Christmas is another series arranged by Carol Matz for the holiday season.  Some Christmas carols are included in each book, but most are popular Christmas songs like Jingle Bell Rock, Let It Snow,  You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, and more.  Available in levels one through three, these are great collections of songs for the holiday to play on a recital or just for fun. Â  Give us a call at 1-800-42-MUSIC or call locally 224-4257 to ask questions, or check out our website at www.stantons.com

To aid Ohio band directors in selecting music for 2012 concert band adjudication, Stanton's will be providing previews of all of the new required pieces on the OMEA concert band lists.  This seven-part series will begin by featuring the new high school concert band selections, and will resume after the holidays with the new required pieces for junior high/middle school, as well as our recommendations for the best new marches.  You can view and listen to the complete OMEA required concert band lists by clicking on the OMEA Required Music Lists option on our concert band webpage, and selecting the list you wish to view.  We hope you find this preview series to be helpful, and look forward to helping you plan a successful contest program.

New OMEA Class AA Required Selections

Abiquiu – David Gillingham
(from the publisher notes)  Abiquiu was inspired by a provocative poem by the same name written by Mesa State College Professor and Colorado poet, L. Luis Lopez.  The ideas set forth by each short stanza of the poem are set somewhat programmatically to music.  With the generous support of Stephen Boelter and Karen Combs, Abiquiu was commissioned by the Mesa State College Wind Symphony, for the 2009 Best of the West Music Festival.

Colorado Blue – Jared Spears
(from the publisher notes)  Colorado Blue was commissioned by the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This tour de force is at times pensive and reflective, at time bold and forceful, and portrays the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and the endless expanse of the sky.

Instinctive Travels - Michael Markowski
(from the publisher notes)  Instinctive Travels is a brisk, bustling escapade full of defibrillating rhythms, indulgent mood swings, and a kaleidoscope of instrumental color evoking joyful euphoria, excitable anticipation, laughter and giddiness, and heroic exhilaration.

Jubilee Overture - Philip Sparke
(from the composer notes)  Jubilee Overture was commissioned for the fiftieth anniversary of the British-based GUS Brass Band and first performed by them at the band's Golden Jubilee Concert in 1983.  It was transcribed for wind band in 1984.  The work opens with a two-part fanfare – a brass flourish followed by a reflective chorale for the winds.  This builds to a climax as the flourish returns.  A lively allegro follows, with many changes of meter and a robust tune from the horns and saxophones.  Eventually a cantabile tune emerges from the middle of the band, which everyone then plays before the allegro returns.  A brief repeat of the opening fanfare precedes a presto coda.

Two American Canvases - Mark Camphouse
(from the publisher notes)  Like the paintings that inspired it, this selection weaves together different sounds and sentiments to produce a rich, evocative tapestry of impressions.  The two movements are based on Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” and Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech.”  From the meditative and serene to the epic and grand, it’s guaranteed to take you on an unforgettable journey.

All of these titles can be ordered via Stantons.com, or by phone (1-800-426-8742).  Don't forget to order your judges' scores - ordering now can save a lot of stress come contest time (avoid them being out-of-stock, or worse, temporarily out-of-print).  Keep following the Stanton's blog, for the upcoming high school class A, B, and C concert band previews.

If you still need another selection to add to your Holiday program, try one of these recommendations from Stanton’s:

A DICKENS CHRISTMAS CAROL SUITE
Arr. Andrew Dabczynski
35960 Gr. 2.5 $42.00
Tell the whole story with English carols, opt. narrator & percussion. Teaching Elements: Working with a narrator • aleatoric chaos • glissandi

THE MOON OF WINTER (The Huron Carol)
Arr. Vince Gassi
35917 Gr. 3 $45.00
Reverent adaptation of Canada's oldest (1643) Christmas carol. Teaching Elements: key of F# minor • LH extensions • celli & bass shifting

WHITE MOUNTAIN RUN
Donald J. Young
50250023 Gr. 3 $50.00
The excitement of a brisk skiing trip up & down Mt. Washington. Teaching Elements: 16th notes at mm 132 • first violin & celli shifting

Things have finally calmed down from the long marching band season, your concert band is beginning to lose its ‘outdoor sound', and your holiday program is starting to come together, BUT basketball season is right around the corner.  Never fear, the band staff at Stanton's has what you need for a successful pep band season from collections of complete song arrangements perfect for quarter breaks and halftime (Stanton's recommends Classic Rock Hits, Jock Jams Super Book, Stadium Hit Mix, and The Ultimate Collection) to groups of cheers and ‘shorties' ideal for timeouts.  Visit our marching band webpage for more ideas, and order online or give us a call: 1-800-426-8742!

Famous & Fun Christmas is a series of books of Christmas carols for piano, levels one through five. Levels two through five include one or two easy arrangements from The Nutcracker. The songs are arranged by Carol Matz, an active composer, author and editor of educational piano materials. These collections are full of favorite Christmas carols: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Deck the Halls,” “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and more. To see the table of contents for each book, visit our website, then pick the level you are interested in. You may feel free to call us at 1-800-426-8742 to ask specific questions about this or other products at Stanton’s Sheet Music.

The 2011 New Concert Band Reading Clinic co-sponsored by Stanton's and Capital University begins tomorrow and runs through Saturday at the Capital University Conservatory of Music.  Tomorrow's sessions are from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with an evening performance by the Capital University Symphonic Winds at 7:30 pm. Saturday's schedule is from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm, featuring performances by the Capital University Wind Symphony and Honors Concert Band.

The Concert Band Reading Clinic is FREE, you can register on-site, and may attend either, both, or parts of both days.  For more information, read our complete post here.  It's not too late to hear the best new music for concert band LIVE and gear up for the rest of the school year!

Symphonically arranged by Mack Wilberg for larger choral forces, the five settings of beloved hymns contained in the collection My Song in the Night are handsomely scored for piano or organ with optional orchestral accompaniments.  Rich choral textures, generous use of divisi, and expertly crafted accompaniments bring a deep sonority to traditional hymns that will transform any worship space or concert hall into a great cathedral of song.  Give your listeners the joy of hearing: “Amazing Grace (New Britain);” “Down to the River to Pray;” “His Voice as the Sound (Samanthra);” “My God, My Portion and My Love (Dunlap's Creek);” and “My Song in the Night (Expression).”

For more repertoire suggestions for your worship or concert hall, please contact us.

As heard at the mind-boggling Trans-Siberian stage show. Add the optional rock rhythm section for an intense and very hip musical experience. Then take your students to see the band live!

CHRISTMAS EVE/SARAJEVO 12/24
Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel/Bob Phillips
33755 Gr. 3.5 $60.00
This thought-provoking medley of Christmas tunes describes a lone cellist playing Christmas carols in the midst of the Bosnian war. The piece reflects the power, drama, and hope of a single musician in the midst of war, reflecting on the power of music to bring hope. The rock rhythm section contributes to an intense and very hip musical experience.

WIZARDS IN WINTER
Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel/Bob Phillips
31509 Gr. 3 $50.00
Highlight your strings and even add a rhythm section if you like—whatever you do, play it large!

For more great recommendations, contact Dan in Orchestra!

Following the success of the Pop Warm-Ups & Work-Outs for Guys collection, Roger Emerson has created Pop Warm-Ups and Work-Outs for Choir, a series of warm-ups for all choirs that use classic rock and roll tunes to build vocal skills while having fun! Each of the eight warm-ups provides a focus objective, suggested learning outcomes and related choral literature for younger and developing ensembles.

Concepts covered include: vowel shapes, resonance, breath control, head voice and falsetto, articulation and diction and much more! Warm-ups are based on these pop classics: “At the Hop,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Good Vibrations,” “Hound Dog,” “Lean on Me,” “The Longest Time,” “Spinning Wheel,” “Thriller,” and “Witch Doctor.”

For more exciting warm-up resources for your choir, please contact us!

Stanton's Sheet Music always seeks out the best sounding, most educationally valid and highly programmable music to recommend to you!  Try one of these recent selections for Hanukkah:

S'VIVON (DREIDLE)
Arr. Ben Clinesmith
3033581 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
Give the second violins some of the limelight and all can practice pizzicato! Teaching Elements: D# in the key of E minor • 2nd violin melody • cello ½ position

CHRISTMAS DREIDEL
Arr. Rick England
35983 Gr. 2.5 $47.00
Clever combo of Dreidel Song & Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat. Teaching Elements: part independence • flat accidentals • syncopation • cello shifting

HANUKKAH HABANERA
Arr. Tim McCarrick
33753 Gr. 3 $45.00
Bizet's famous opera melody links Hanukkah O Hannukkah & The Dreidel Song. Teaching Elements: moving between D major & D minor • chromaticism • triplets

For more information and other great recommendations, contact Dan in Orchestra!

Don't forget that the 2011 New Concert Band Reading Clinic co-sponsored by Stanton's and Capital University takes place next week, November 18-19, at the Capital University Conservatory of Music.  Friday sessions are scheduled from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with an evening performance by the Capital University Symphonic Winds at 7:30 pm. Saturday's schedule is from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm, featuring performances by the Capital University Wind Symphony and Honors Concert Band.

The Concert Band Reading Clinic is FREE, you can register on-site, and may attend either, both, or parts of both days.  For more information, read our complete post here.

One of the new titles featured on our August Elementary General Music Clinic that we just love is Artie Almeida’s ”Parachutes and Ribbons and Scarves, Oh My!” from Heritage Music Press. Check out the video below of Artie leading an elementary class in one of the fun activities featured in the book:

Click here to watch video

Two Self-Teaching favorites, Alfred’s Self-Teaching  Basic Guitar Course and Alfred’s Self-Teaching Basic Adult Piano Course, are now available with DVD and CD. Both methods teach how to read music in addition to how to chord. The CD lets you play along with the songs in the book and the DVD helps by demonstrating techniques that are used in each song in the book.

The guitar method includes a chord chart on the back page that sorts the chords by key. The piano method book includes “emusic”–50 free music downloads. If you are giving or getting a guitar, keyboard or piano for Christmas, one of these self-teaching books will get you or your loved one started.

If you want to know more about these books or related instructional materials please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us or check out our website.

What song hit both #3 on the rock charts and #1 on the country charts and featured the violin, of all instruments.  The year was 1979, and the group was The Charlie Daniels Band.  Yes – it was “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won the group a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance that year.  We were all saddened to hear that one of the co-writers of that song, and the keyboardists for the band for 40 years, Joel “Taz” Gregorio, was killed in a car accident in October, 2011 on the way to meet the band’s tour bus for an upcoming performance.  Perhaps a special tribute is in order!

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” has been a frequently requested song at Stanton’s.  The story line, which is more spoken than sung, involves a challenge by the Devil to a fiddle playing contest with a young man named Johnny.  If Johnny wins, he gets a fiddle of solid gold.  If he loses, the Devil gets his soul.  After each of them plays, it is obvious that Johnny is the better fiddler and wins the golden fiddle – ’cause he’s “the best that’s ever been!”

There are three sheet music formats in which this song is currently available.  There is a Piano/Vocal Sheet that comes with a pull-out violin part.  It is also available in a Marching Band edition arranged by Michael Brown that features the mallet percussion on the “fiddle” solos.  There is also a Concert Band edition arranged by Michael Brown that features a soloist on the “fiddle” parts (solo parts included for flute, violin, clarinet, alto saxophone or mallet percussion) as well as an optional narrator to tell the story.  All have been best sellers for years.

So why not pay tribute to one of the writers of this famous tune and get your copy of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” in whichever format suits your situation.  Then you can do your part to become the “best that’s ever been!”

Plan to attend the next Stanton's Sacred Choral Clinic on Saturday, January 7th, 2012. We will be featuring the best new choral publications for Lent, Easter and beyond, as chosen by Stanton's sacred choral staff. The clinic will be held in its usual place at the Battelle Fine Arts Center at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH.

Attending this clinic is a fantastic way for you to choose new church anthems for your choir by hearing the music read live! This January's clinicians will be Stanton's own Judy Henry and president emeritus Jim Strouse. Please feel free to contact Stanton's at 1-800-42-MUSIC and speak with a choral staff member for the details of the event. We look forward to seeing you at 8:30 for registration, coffee and doughnuts followed by a wonderful morning of singing!

If you missed our Elementary General Music Clinic this August, you can still check out these new titles recommended by the elementary/classroom music specialists at Stanton's Sheet Music :

Music Games for Every Month
Creative, fun, authentic, relevant—this collection of REPRODUCIBLE worksheets includes note spellers, matching activities, word searches, and more, all incorporating music concepts and skills such as pitch and rhythm recognition, music history, and music vocabulary. With this resource, you’ll be prepared no matter the season!

Music Scrambles
Teach and test music reading skills with this 100% reproducible resource for developing musicians! Individual measures of familiar melodies have been randomly scattered for students to reassemble. Occasional bonus questions further enhance musical learning. What a fun way to use those few extra minutes of class time or plan for a substitute teacher. Fun for all ages!

For more information on these or other materials for Elementary classroom music, contact us!

Just a reminder that the 2011 New Concert Band Reading Clinic co-sponsored by Stanton's and Capital University will take place November 18-19 at the Capital University Conservatory of Music.  Friday sessions are scheduled from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with an evening performance by the Capital University Symphonic Winds at 7:30 pm. Saturday's schedule is from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm, featuring performances by the Capital University Wind Symphony and Honors Concert Band.

The Concert Band Reading Clinic is FREE, you can register on-site, and may attend either, both, or parts of both days.  For more information, read our complete post here.

Do you need some more selections for your Holiday concert? Try one of these educationally valid and highly programmable pieces recommended by Stanton’s Sheet Music:

NORTHPOLE WORKSHOP
Doug Spata
35965 Gr. 1.5 $45.00
Fun polka depicting Santa's elves. Teaching Elements: string crossing • staccato • elementary arpeggios • 8th notes

JAPANESE CHRISTMAS
Keiko Yamada
FAS69 Gr. 1.5 $40.00
Unique Bring a Torch + Holly & Ivy. Teaching Elements: Asian pentatonic harmony • subtle dynamics • multiculturalism

GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
Arr. Bob Cerulli
35912 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
Fun! Sprinkled with Xmas quotes. Teaching Elements: D.S. al Coda concept • 16th/8th/16th rhythm • F & Bb

NUTCRACKER…IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES
Arr. Doug Wagner
35896 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
5 tightly woven ballet movements. Teaching Elements: Romantic chromaticism • tempo & meter changes • caesuras

For more recommendations from Stanton's, contact Dan in Orchestra!

 Two favorite piano instruction books for adults now come with a DVD!
Alfreds Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level One, and Adult All-in-One Course Level One.

These books have a chordal approach to learning the piano, which helps the beginner to get into pop music quicker. The DVD helps to see the technique involved in playing different styles.

Call Stanton’s at 1-800-42-MUSIC, or email our keyboard department for more information.

Stanton’s Sheet Music will be featuring some small ensembles performing in our store during the holiday season to add to the atmosphere for our customers.

Are you a soloist or part of a small vocal or instrumental group that could volunteer your talents to provide some seasonal music on a Saturday in December? Use this as an opportunity to advertise your group to our musical clientele, or to refine your set before performing in your school or community concert!

Contact Judy in our keyboard department to find out about getting added to our line-up!